A potential school shooting was prevented in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Thursday morning when a 13-year-old boy was arrested after attempting to enter Roosevelt Elementary School while carrying a rifle. The teenager, a student at Mahone Middle School, was stopped by school staff before he could enter the building and fled the scene after being confronted.
According to police, the boy had arrived at the school with a bag containing a rifle, prompting immediate concern from school personnel. After attempting to enter the building, he was approached by staff, who questioned him. He then ran off, sparking a police investigation that led to his arrest.
Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton stated that the situation could have had tragic consequences, but thanks to the swift action of both school staff and law enforcement, the incident ended without harm.
“We are extremely relieved that this situation was resolved peacefully,” Patton said in a press briefing. “This could have easily resulted in a very different outcome, but thanks to a coordinated effort, we were able to prevent a tragedy.”
Quick Thinking by School Staff
School officials confirmed that the suspect did not gain access to the building but was stopped at the school’s secure entryway. Superintendent Jeffrey Weiss praised the heroic actions of the school staff for their quick response, which likely prevented a potentially deadly situation.
The boy had tried to enter through several locked doors before attempting the secure entry. This entryway consists of two doors: one that leads to the school office and another that grants access to the school itself. The suspect was stopped at the first door, where a staff member confronted him. At that point, he became nervous and fled.
“These staff members acted quickly and decisively,” Weiss said. “While they may not have known exactly what was going on in the moment, their actions were instrumental in preventing a potential catastrophe.”
Investigation Reveals Concerning Behavior
The teenager was arrested later that day in a nearby neighborhood. Police found no legitimate reason for the boy to be on the school grounds. Chief Patton confirmed that the investigation uncovered disturbing evidence, including online searches related to school shootings and recent comments the boy made to classmates.
Patton also mentioned that a video showed the suspect practicing room-entry tactics, suggesting he had been planning an attack.
“This should have been flagged earlier,” Patton said. “There were clear warning signs — internet searches, concerning statements, and other red flags. Fortunately, we stopped this before it could escalate.”
Schools on Secure Hold During the Incident
In response to the incident, the Kenosha Unified School District implemented a district-wide secure hold, meaning that no one could enter or exit any of the schools while law enforcement worked to locate the suspect. The secure hold was lifted by 2:40 p.m., and students were dismissed as usual.
At the same time, police were investigating a report of a shooter at Gateway Technical College, but this was later determined to be a misunderstanding based on an incorrect interpretation of the earlier incident.
The district worked closely with local law enforcement agencies, including the Kenosha Police Department, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, and Pleasant Prairie Police Department, to ensure the safety of all schools in the district during the search for the suspect.
“We understand the concern and fear this caused in the community,” Chief Patton said. “We want to reassure everyone that we acted quickly to ensure the safety of the students and staff.”
Community Response and Support
Frank Elementary School, which is part of the district, posted an update on social media to inform parents that afternoon 4K classes were canceled as a precautionary measure. The school assured families that the district was working closely with police to locate the suspect and ensure the safety of all students.
State Superintendent Jill Underly also issued a statement later in the day, thanking school staff for their quick and decisive actions in preventing the potential shooting.
“I am deeply grateful to the school staff in Kenosha who prevented a young person with a firearm from entering the building,” Underly said. “Their fast thinking protected students and ensured no one was hurt. The reality of school violence is something we must all confront, and the actions of this staff saved lives today.”
Ongoing Vigilance Needed
Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton emphasized the importance of community awareness and the need to report warning signs in order to prevent future incidents like this.
“This is a reminder that we all need to stay vigilant,” Patton said. “We narrowly avoided a tragedy today, but there were clear signs that should have raised alarms earlier. We need the community to report anything that seems out of the ordinary, so we can stop these things before they happen.”
The incident highlights the importance of preparedness, quick action, and community cooperation in maintaining the safety of schools. Thanks to the alertness of school staff and the swift response from law enforcement, a potential disaster was averted in Kenosha.
